Friday, 31 August 2012

There are just over 12 hours to go until the transfer window closes until January 1st and it looks like the manager could pull some deals out of his magic hat.

The latest player to be linked with us is Chelsea's Michael Essien by the Daily Mail. A loan move could be on the cards. While he was a fantastic player at the height of his powers, he's not been the same since his two knee injuries. I'm not sure we need another midfielder with injury problems. We already have a midfield stocked with them.

If we are to add Essien to Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshere - two players coming back after being out for last season - I think we'll have a problem to keep them all fit.

Rumours increased yesterday about a move for Newcastle's Cheick Tioite after French TV station BeIN Sport linked us with a move for the midfielder.

With scouting reports also being pulled for Clint Dempsey as well, you can be sure that a midfielder is in the manager's sights and that is where he wants to add to his squad.

Whether he'll be able to do it considering the time constraints, I'm not sure. And I'm not overly positive we'll do any deals today considering what he said in his press conference yesterday.

"We are active but of course we do not just want to bring average players in. If we find a special player who can find us a plus we will do it, if not we will not do it.

"It depends what kind of players are available - it is difficult to know. I am relaxed, yes. We have of course enough, that is for sure, but you want always to improve your squad and if we find a top, top, top player we will do it.

"We are working very, very hard, we have resources available so if it is not happening now it will happen in December. But we believe strongly that we have the quality in our squad to do very well."

Do it now Arsene!

Another player we've been linked with is Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge by the Daily Mirror. I'd be very surprised if that happened.

We could say goodbye to a couple of our players. Nicklas Bendtner is likely to join Juventus on loan and Park Ju-young is close to joining Celta Vigo.

A quick look forward to Sunday's game and the manager has revealed that Wojciech Szczesny faces two fitness tests - today and tomorrow - to discover whether he can play at Anfield. Meanwhile there is better news regarding Laurent Koscielny who is back in the squad after recovering from a calf injury. More on thhe game tomorrow.